Support the Interests of the Children of Divorces

You will probably be amazed at how adaptable your children are. If you handle the new situation with care and understanding, and spend some time really considering their needs, your kids will most likely adapt to the new situation a lot faster than you will.

Fighting over your kids—custody, visitation, parenting—is the worst possible thing that can happen to your or your kids. It's always ugly. Studies show that harm to children is more closely related to conflict after the divorce. Everyone has conflict before and during a divorce, but if you want to pro... See More

Reassure your children that they're loved and that the divorce isn't their fault. Many children assume that they're to blame for their parents' hostility.

If you are the custodial parent and not receiving child support, don't tell your children. It feeds into the child's sense of abandonment and further erodes his or her sense of stability.

Your children may be tempted to act as your caretaker. Resist the temptation to let them. Let your peers, adult family members, and mental health professionals be your counselors. Let your children be children.